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Married:
- Hicksville*
Robert Williams purchased from Pugnipan, Sachem of the Matinecock Indians, on May 20, 1648, the area known as the Williams Plantation which would be today part of Jericho, Woodbury, Hicksville, Plainview and Bethpage, for a quantity of trading (English) cloth.
Thomas Hicks, the son of John Hicks who settled in Hempstead along with Robert Williams, obtained a grant of 4000 acres of land around Great Neck in 1666. Two of Thomas’ sons are important to the Hicksville story. .
Benjamin Hicks, Thomas’ sixth son, married Phebe Titus. It was their grandson, Valentine, who was to become of the founders of Hicksville in the Plantation area. .
Jacob Hicks’ famous grandson, Elias, was born on March 10, 1748, at Rockaway, Long Island. His marriage to Jemina Seaman, January 02, 1771, brought him to live with his in-laws in the Williams Plantation. They had three daughters; it was Abigail, who married her cousin Valentine Hicks. Sarah, married Robert Seaman, and Martha, married Royal Aldrich. Each of these daughters shared in the division of Elias’ property which included the Hicksville area. The three sons-in- law were executors. The will is simple. In it, in addition to equal shares to his children and mention that Abigail’s share was to be taken from a sum owed him under bond by Valentine, he provided a life estate for David, the colored man who had long lived with him. .
Valentine Hicks purchased tracts of land from Royal Aldrich and William Willets in the Plantation. In 1834 he formed a Land Association with Robert Seaman, David Seaman and others. The land was surveyed and laid out in numbered building lots. The map of the area drawn in October 1836, by Morris M. Fosdick was filed in Queens County in December of that year. .
The problem before the associates was to encourage land purchases in small parcels. One inducement seemed to be secure a quick route to New York. The nearest road connection was the Jericho Turnpike, located several miles away. The answer lay in bringing a railroad to the area. .
In 1834 Valentine Hicks and others appeared before the State Legislature for the passage of an act to incorporate a railroad. On April 24, 1834 an act was passed incorporating the Long Island Railroad.
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